10 Years Later

Carmilla sat beside me in our drawing room. We sat silently as my parents and uncle discussed about me and my future. If I would really have one after this. It was hard to breathe with the tight corset strangling me to death. It was even harder to breathe when they conversed about my arranged marriage. I think I was hyper-ventilating because Carmilla squeezed my hand gently and whispered to me to breathe. I wasn't ready for any marriages, or even marry a man I don't love. But, I cannot argue with what they want.

"Do you think the King of England will marry her?" my father asked both my mother and uncle.

"I don't know..." my mother said distracted.

I didn't like the King of England; he was too old for me; about ten years age difference. And the size of his waist was a big no for me.

"The Prince of Wales maybe?" he suggested.

"Possible." she answered. "How about sultans, emperors, dukes, lords? There's a wide range of bachelors out there." she looked at both their faces searching for an answer.

"Hmmm..." was what my uncle just said. He had his hand on his chin thinking deeply about something. Uncle was never the type who discussed things.

Father took a sip from his cup emptying it in one big gulp. The red liquid trickled down from his lips. He quickly wiped it off with his handkerchief.

"We can have a ball!" my uncle suddenly said enthusiastically. Father and mother looked at him listening carefully. Uncle loved balls and parties; he always held one and went to one. "We could invite all the young suitors from around the globe. We could choose who is really worth having young Christina as their bride. I'm sure this would be much easier than picking one right out of our heads."

Silence for a second then they were busy talking about a new topic. Of course, no one would turn down any of uncle's suggestions. Even mother and father can't argue with him. If they did, it's either die or banished from the estate – if uncle's being generous. I am his favourite niece out of all my other cousins. He would always have a gift for me from the different places he travelled to. He also told me some of the family's secret that only he knows. One of the biggest things that he told me was that I was going to be the next in line for his place. Nobody has ever been chosen to replace uncle. I was the only heiress. Uncle Lorano was also my favourite. He started taking care of me since I was a baby. I love him more than my own father. At least he cares about me more than any one besides Carmilla.

"So, it is settled." my father spoke up after their long conversation. I know he was addressing me "We will have a ball in a month's time."

I didn't move or breathe as my parents passed me to exit the room. Uncle stopped before me, he knelt to my level. His face never changed since I have first seen him. A perfect straightened pale face. His dark onyx eyes glinted in the light; his long black hair was tied neatly behind his head; his lips were always cherry red and he always had that hollow look in his eyes. It was as if he had no soul. My father looks like him, a sharp nose, long black hair, a long face with high cheekbones, skin as white as snow. Except father has the eyes that are a colour of green mixed with yellow like my late grandmother.

"I am sorry my dear for what you have to go through," he said feeling sympathy for me "I know this is really hard for you but this is part of our tradition." he smiled then patted my head like he used to do when I was little. "You will accept all of this as time goes." he then stood up and left.

I didn't want this to happen, any of this. If I could just be someone else who doesn't have to go through this, if I was just born in a different family; raised as a normal human, if my whole family wasn't like this. But I know that I will be stuck here forever.

Carmilla patted my cheeks with her pink handkerchief. I didn't even know that I was crying; Carmilla tried to soothe me. I leaned onto her shoulder letting my anger out in tears. She was whispering comforting words in my hair shushing me once and again. Her arms around me were more comforting than her words were.

A month later, the time of the ball came. Kings, princes, emperors, lords, dukes, sultans from all over the world all came in different beautifully oriented carriages pulled by elegant well-bred horses. The spacious ball room was slowly being filled with guests. Father, uncle and Carmilla were down stairs greeting every one of the guests as they entered the castle.

I sat in front of my mirror waiting for what will happen to me. This was the night were my parents and uncle's going to choose a husband for me. An arranged marriage. There were enough men to choose from and a wide variety too.

Someone knocked on the door gently. When I didn't answer they let themself in. It was my mother wearing the most glorious and most expensive gown that any one has ever seen. Small glittering gemstones decorated the waistline. The very top was as red as ruby and her big skirt was a dark red. The sleeves were cut short showing her smooth white arms. She wore big diamonds around her neck and ears. She also had diamonds around the slippers that she wore. Her hair was done up being held by pins and she had make-up on. It even made her more beautiful than ever. The most beautiful woman that anyone had set eyes on. I looked into the mirror, the same features gawked at me only the hair was a different colour. My mother's light brown hair was replaced with a deep midnight black. Anyone who would look at us would know that we were related.

She stood awkwardly at the door not knowing what to do. I stared at her waiting for her to do or say anything. When she saw my hair wasn't ready yet; she came over and picked up the golden brush. She brushed my hair in silence slowly unknotting every loop in my hair. I didn't say anything that would disturb this moment. Without a word, she had done my hair up with ties and pins. My long black hair was exactly like hers now. I must admit that she did a pretty good job. Above all the hair, she placed a shining tiara on my head. The crown for a princess.

"You look beautiful." she said silently.

I wonder if she said it as a compliment or as something else. Was she envying me or was she being a mother?

"Tonight's going to be a big night. You have to greet the guests politely and if someone asks you to dance with them, dance with them." she lectured me sternly. "Most importantly, no matter who we choose don't complain about it. Understood?"

I nodded my head. I was ready to throw up on my dress and all over the table, where my make-up and jewellery stood. I held my necklace tightly. The necklace that Tristyn gave me before he left. I never took it off. Every time I was scared or was missing him; I always held onto my necklace. And every time did I so, it felt like he was really there beside me. My family didn't mind me wearing their enemies emblem; since they heard about their imminent move, they we're happy.

Mother saw what I was holding. She gently took it from me prying my hand to open. She studied it very carefully turning it round and round. I was worried that she would take it away from me. I don't know how I would survive without it. It was the only thing that kept me together.

"Hmmm. Interesting." she said to herself. "I have never seen their emblem before but now that I see it; all I could say is, interesting thing. A dragon being plunged by a sword. I think ours is much more heroic than this." she said with a vile tone. She dropped it and washed her hands with water that was supposed to be for my face; I would have someone to change it. She patted her hands dry with a towel. "No offence intended to you." she said apologetically after a while.

I looked back into the mirror. In the background, I could see my mother observing my room. She would be having someone to renovate my room tomorrow. The look in her eyes tells me that she does not like this room.

I sighed. "No offence intended to you." my mother's last sentence went round my head. Only me, not them.